Houston tallied 11 hits, led by Lael Lockart Jr., who had two hits, a run and two RBI. Freshman Kyle Lovelace tallied a career-best three hits and had an RBI, while Jared Triolo notched yet another multi-hit game with two hits.

Starter Ryan Randel was dominant in his 11th start of the season, surrendering just three hits and two runs to Rice. He tossed a career-long 6.2 innings and fanned seven hitters, one shy of his career-best, en route to his fifth win, improving to 5-4.

Senior Joey Pulido took over with two outs in the seventh and fanned the only hitter he faced in the frame. He went on to toss 2.1 shutout innings without allowing a hit with three strikeouts.

KEY INNINGS1st | Houston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind a pair of hits and a passed ball. Grayson Padgett singled and scored on a passed ball, while Jared Triolo singled and scored on a Lael Lockhart Jr. RBI-single.

3rd | The Cougars added to their lead in the third inning following a Joe Davis double, a wild pitch and a sac fly by Lael Lockhart Jr.

5th | Houston continued its scoring with three runs in the fifth inning. Tyler Bielamowicz walked and came around to score on a wild pitch then Cooper Coldiron, who reached on a fielder's choice sac bunt, scored on a stolen base by Landon Etzel. Rice then makes a throwing error trying to double off Etzel and he scores to make it 6-0 Cougars.

7th | Houston made it 7-0 in the seventh on an RBI-single by Kyle Lovelace, scoring Lael Lockhart after he opened the inning with a single.

Rice drew a 1-out walk then used a two-run home run to get on the board and trim Houston's lead to 7-2.

ON DECK
The Cougars will travel to Hammond, La. to face Southland Conference foe Southeastern Louisiana in a two-game, out-of-conference series, Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. each day.